Ollie Perez Returns to The Rotation: What The Mets Need The Most?

Oliver Perez returns to the starting rotation today and will face the Dodgers tonight at Citi Field.

Perez has been on the DL for tendonitis in his knee since May Second, but even before that, he had been demoted to the bullpen for his ineffectiveness as a starting pitcher during his April starts.

The Mets are in dire need of a pick me up, both physically and mentally, as right now they appear bruised, beaten and frustrated.

Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes will hopefully be the next players off the DL, but that may not happen for another month.

Both players are needed for this team to have a speed and power boost, as David Wright, the team's leading base stealer, is struggling to walk right now, never mind run, and has not been hitting for power since the start of the season.

Carlos Delgado will hopefully be back towards the end of August, but there is no guarantee on a return timetable for him, and also no guarantee of how his hip will hold up to the rigors of playing every day.

Oliver Perez is an enigma to say the least, his pitching is not consistent, but this year, nothing is consistent for the Mets except for the DL list growing almost daily.

Perez when he has his best stuff is one of the hardest pitchers to hit in the majors, and does seem to step up to the challenge for a big game.

Losing their last four games, and only scoring a total of three runs in those four games is discouraging at best, but their starting pitching has been equally suspect.

Tonight will be a test of how much Perez's return is a benefit to a team that needs a boost, and encouraging news that players coming off the DL can contribute to a team that is struggling in all senses of the game.